U.S. Labor Market Monitor
Public-data reference. for PlainLabor.
Fast explorer of BLS JOLTS data: openings, hires, quits across 51 states & 22 industries with trends/rankings
Job openings, hires, quits, and layoffs from the BLS JOLTS program — latest data: Dec 2025
States by Job Openings
Industries by Job Openings
Where wages land in the U.S. labor market
Reference distribution from the BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — illustrative for a representative bachelor-entry occupation. Use the wage-percentile lookup tool below for a state-specific position.
Try the wage percentile lookup to see where a salary falls in your state.
About JOLTS Data
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It measures job openings, hires, and separations (quits, layoffs, discharges) across all nonfarm industries. JOLTS data is a key economic indicator used by the Federal Reserve and policymakers to assess labor market conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JOLTS data?
JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) is a monthly BLS survey that measures job openings, hires, and separations across the U.S. economy.
What states and industries are covered?
PlainLabor covers all 51 states and territories plus 22 industry sectors, with data on job openings, hires, quits, layoffs, and total separations.
Where does the data come from?
All data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, published monthly with approximately a two-month lag.
Labor Market Guides
Plain-language explanations of JOLTS data, labor market indicators, and how to read the numbers.
Understanding JOLTS Data
What BLS measures, how it's collected, and what it reveals about labor market health.
Job Openings vs. Hires
Why openings and hires tell different stories, and what a high gap signals.
Labor Market Indicators
The quits rate, layoff trends, and how JOLTS fits alongside the monthly jobs report.
The Great Resignation by the Numbers
JOLTS data on the 2021–2023 quits wave — which industries saw the biggest exodus and what ended it.
Which Industries Are Hiring Fastest
Industry hire rate rankings from JOLTS — growth vs. turnover and what it means for job seekers.
Related Guides
Editorial context for the plainlabor dataset — methodology, comparisons, and deep dives into the underlying records.
The Great Resignation by the Numbers — JOLTS Data on the 2021–2023 Quits Wave
In-depth guide with context and practical steps.
Interpreting Unemployment Rates
In-depth guide with context and practical steps.
Job Openings vs. Hires — Why They Tell Different Stories
In-depth guide with context and practical steps.
Research
Original analysis from our editorial team, every statistic derived from our own database. See all research.
Top 10 States for Job Openings in 2024 from JOLTS Data
Discover the 10 states with the highest job openings rates in 2024, including West Virginia at 5.8% and Oklahoma at 5.3%, based on BLS JOLTS metrics across 22 industries and 51 states, revealing key hiring trends.
ResearchQuits Rates Increased 15% from 2020 to 2024 in Key Industries
Examine how quits rates rose by 15% overall from 2020 to 2024 in industries like mining and healthcare, based on JOLTS data for 51 states and 22 sectors, highlighting major labor shifts and separations trends.
ResearchTop 10 States Dominate 60% of Layoffs in 2024 JOLTS Data
Analyze how the top 10 states accounted for 60% of layoffs and discharges in 2024, including Texas with 1.2 million cases and California at 1.5 million, based on JOLTS records across 22 industries and 51 states.